CDBG Disaster Recovery Construction Specialist

Plexos Group is seeking a qualified Construction Specialist to support the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program’s New Mexico Home Recovery Program (HRP). The HRP provides housing rehabilitation, reconstruction, new construction, and Manufactured Housing Unit (MHU) installation for eligible households affected by 2024 natural disasters in New Mexico.

This role primarily focuses on construction project coordination, administrative oversight, Smartsheet project tracking, documentation management, and operational reporting across multiple residential construction projects. Working closely with the Construction Supervisor and technical construction personnel, the Construction Specialist monitors project milestones, maintains accurate and comprehensive construction records, tracks contractor deliverables, identifies scheduling and documentation deficiencies, and supports timely resolution of outstanding requirements.

The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional organizational skills, strong proficiency in Smartsheets or similar project management software, and the ability to independently manage complex tracking and reporting responsibilities. A working understanding of residential construction processes is beneficial; however, the position emphasizes project controls, administrative coordination, documentation accuracy, and proactive identification of issues rather than direct construction supervision or specialized technical expertise.

The Construction Specialist also supports communication among applicants, contractors, inspectors, and program personnel to facilitate construction progress, maintain compliance with applicable program requirements, and ensure accurate and timely reporting.

Location: Candidates must be local to the State of New Mexico or be willing to deploy 75% of the time (6 weeks on, 2 weeks off) to New Mexico.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Tracking, Reporting, and Administrative Controls

Maintain accurate and timely construction project tracking in Smartsheet and designated program systems, including project milestones, inspection dates, contractor deliverables, change orders, delays, corrective actions, and closeout requirements.

Develop, maintain, and improve Smartsheet tracking tools, reports, dashboards, automated notifications, and workflows to support efficient construction operations and management reporting.

Proactively monitor project data to identify approaching deadlines, overdue activities, stalled projects, workflow bottlenecks, and potential scheduling or compliance risks; communicate findings and escalate unresolved issues as appropriate.

Prepare and maintain construction status reports, performance metrics, milestone summaries, and other operational reporting to support management oversight and program accountability.

Maintain complete, organized, and audit-ready construction files in accordance with applicable program, state, and federal requirements; identify missing documentation and coordinate timely resolution.

Perform administrative quality control by cross-referencing contractor invoices, change orders, and draw requests against approved bids, contracts, scopes of work, and documented construction progress; identify discrepancies and refer technical or financial concerns for appropriate review.

Track required contractor labor compliance documentation, monitor submission deadlines, identify missing or incomplete records, and escalate potential deficiencies in accordance with applicable project requirements.

Review scopes of work, contractor bids, invoices, change orders, work write-ups, construction plans, and draw requests for administrative completeness, consistency, and alignment with approved project documentation; document discrepancies and coordinate technical review when necessary.

Construction Coordination and Communication

Support day-to-day coordination of housing rehabilitation, reconstruction, new construction, and Manufactured Housing Unit (MHU) projects in accordance with approved scopes of work and Home Recovery Program requirements.

Coordinate with contractors, inspectors, architectural and technical personnel, environmental review staff, Disaster Case Managers, and other program personnel to support construction progress and resolve documentation or scheduling deficiencies.

Track contractor performance, construction milestones, project delays, inspection requirements, and corrective actions; identify risks and escalate unresolved issues to the Construction Supervisor.

Review contractor requests for extensions, verify supporting documentation, track schedule impacts, and submit recommendations for appropriate review and approval.

Support contractor assignment recommendations by maintaining and analyzing information related to contractor performance, capacity, workload, and project requirements.

Serve as a construction-related point of contact for applicants, providing project updates, explaining construction timelines, documenting communications, and coordinating resolution of routine concerns with appropriate program personnel.

Facilitate communication among applicants, contractors, inspectors, and program personnel to document decisions, resolve routine issues, and maintain construction progress.

Manufactured Housing, Closeout, and Warranty Coordination

Support MHU delivery and installation coordination, including scheduling, site readiness tracking, permitting documentation, utility coordination, and required inspections in collaboration with technical construction personnel.

Maintain accurate MHU inventory and project tracking records, including delivery schedules, installation milestones, and outstanding site readiness requirements.

Coordinate project closeout documentation, final inspection scheduling, punch list tracking, outstanding corrective actions, and verification of required closeout records.

Track warranty-related issues, maintain supporting documentation, and coordinate contractor follow-up to support timely resolution and documentation of completed repairs.

Additional Program Support

Assist with contractor training, staff briefings, and program updates related to construction procedures, documentation standards, project tracking, labor compliance, and applicable HUD/CDBG-DR requirements.

Maintain current knowledge of Home Recovery Program policies, procedures, and documentation requirements.

Perform other duties as assigned to support Home Recovery Program construction operations, administrative oversight, and compliance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred.

Two or more years of experience in project coordination, project controls, construction administration, program operations, compliance tracking, or related administrative roles involving multiple concurrent projects, deadlines, and documentation requirements.

Demonstrated proficiency in Smartsheet or comparable project management software, including maintaining project tracking systems, managing deadlines and deliverables, developing and updating reports, and ensuring data accuracy across multiple projects.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and demonstrated ability to independently maintain accurate and comprehensive project records.

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize competing deadlines, and proactively identify outstanding requirements or potential delays.

Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to coordinate effectively with contractors, program personnel, and applicants.

Preferred:

Advanced Smartsheet or comparable project management software experience, including dashboards, automated workflows, alerts, formulas, cross-sheet references, and development or improvement of project tracking and reporting tools.

Experience in construction project administration, residential construction coordination, housing rehabilitation, reconstruction, or disaster recovery housing programs.

Experience with HUD-funded programs, including CDBG, HOME, CDBG-DR, or other federally funded housing programs.

Familiarity with construction documentation, including scopes of work, contractor bids, change orders, inspection reports, draw requests, and project closeout requirements.

Experience with project management, document management, or case management systems.

Experience supporting compliance monitoring, audit preparation, or federally funded program reporting.

Familiarity with Manufactured Housing Unit (MHU) or modular housing installation processes.

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in construction management, business administration, public administration, project management, or a related field.

Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish strongly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Strong knowledge of project tracking, administrative controls, documentation management, and operational reporting practices.

Ability to effectively use Smartsheet to monitor project progress, manage deliverables, track deadlines, identify outstanding activities, and support management reporting.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify discrepancies, recognize workflow bottlenecks, and proactively escalate issues requiring attention.

Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready project documentation.

Working knowledge of residential construction terminology, processes, and project lifecycles, including rehabilitation, reconstruction, and new construction.

Ability to review scopes of work, cost estimates, change orders, inspection documentation, and other construction records for administrative completeness and consistency.

Familiarity with HUD CDBG-DR program requirements, compliance documentation, and federally funded housing program operations.

Ability to coordinate multiple concurrent projects, track competing deadlines, and maintain consistent follow-up on outstanding requirements.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear project status updates, document findings, and communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

Ability to work collaboratively with construction professionals, contractors, inspectors, program personnel, and disaster-impacted households.

General understanding of Manufactured Housing Unit (MHU) delivery, installation, site readiness, and permitting processes.

Ability to recognize matters requiring technical review and appropriately escalate concerns rather than independently making specialized construction determinations.

Ability to travel within the program service area as required.

Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to applicable program safety, documentation, and compliance requirements.

 Plexos Group LLC is an Equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law. Plexos Group recognizes the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce that considers the needs of the communities we serve, and we are committed to providing an inclusive workplace environment free from discrimination.    

The Plexos Group, LLC employs the most experienced and innovative professionals in the field of disaster recovery management who have completed similar work for municipal, state, and federal agencies. Our project team has more than 100 years of combined experience in managing disaster recovery and has led disaster recovery programs in excess of $25 billion.